Ep 7. First Responders

In Chopped season 23 episode 7 titled "First Responders", four first responders go head-to-head in the culinary competition. The contestants are Chasidy, a firefighter who also serves as a cook for her department; Alex, a New York EMT who dreams of opening his own restaurant one day; Kristen, a paramedic with a passion for pastry; and Donald, a police officer who loves to cook with unique ingredients.

The contestants arrive in the Chopped kitchen and are welcomed by the host, Ted Allen. He explains the rules of the competition and introduces the judges: Amanda Freitag, Maneet Chauhan, and Marc Murphy. The contestants are given a basket of mystery ingredients and are tasked with creating an appetizer in 20 minutes. The ingredients include smoked whitefish, purple cauliflower, fava beans, and coconut butter.

Chasidy decides to make a smoked whitefish and fava bean salad with a purple cauliflower puree. Alex goes for a south-western twist and creates smoked whitefish fajitas with a purple cauliflower and fava bean salsa. Kristen opts for a pastry appetizer and makes a smoked whitefish and fava bean turnover with a purple cauliflower dipping sauce. Donald takes a unique approach and whips up a coconut butter and fava bean dip with purple cauliflower chips topped with smoked whitefish.

The judges taste each dish and give their critiques. Chasidy's salad is praised for its freshness, but the judges felt that the cauliflower puree was too bland. Alex's fajitas had a great flavor but the judges thought the presentation could have been better. Kristen's pastry was delicious but the judges felt it was too small. Donald's dish was creative but the judges thought the coconut butter overpowered the other flavors.

Next, the contestants are given a basket of mystery ingredients and are asked to create an entrée in 30 minutes. The ingredients include rack of lamb, peach preserves, green papaya, and smoked ghost pepper powder.

Chasidy decides to go for a classic lamb dish and creates a rack of lamb with a smoked ghost pepper rub and a green papaya salsa. Alex creates a fusion dish and makes a lamb stir-fry with green papaya and peach preserves. Kristen decides to make a stuffed lamb chop with green papaya and peach preserve stuffing. Donald decides to take a risk and goes for a lamb and peach pizza with green papaya salad.

The judges taste each dish and are impressed with the creativity. Chasidy's dish is praised for the balance of flavors and the perfectly cooked lamb. Alex's stir-fry is a hit with the judges, but they wished there was more peach flavor. Kristen's stuffed lamb chop is a standout dish, but the judges wish the green papaya was more of a presence in the dish. Donald's pizza is a risk that pays off, but the judges thought the green papaya salad was too heavy on the lime juice.

Lastly, the contestants are given a basket of mystery ingredients and are asked to create a dessert in 30 minutes. The ingredients include cherry pie filling, pretzels, tahini, and dragon fruit.

Chasidy decides to create a cherry and dragon fruit tart with a pretzel crust and a tahini drizzle. Alex goes for a deconstructed dessert and makes a pretzel and cherry crumble with dragon fruit cream and a tahini-topped pretzel. Kristen decides to make a dragon fruit and cherry parfait with a pretzel crumble and a tahini whipped cream. Donald decides to get creative and makes a dragon fruit and cherry pretzel bread pudding with a tahini glaze.

The judges taste each dish and are blown away by the creativity and flavors. Chasidy's tart is a hit with the judges and they love the pretzel crust. Alex's deconstructed dessert is praised for the cherry and pretzel combination, but the judges wanted more dragon fruit flavor. Kristen's parfait is a standout dish, but the judges wished there was more tahini flavor. Donald's bread pudding takes a risk and pays off, with the judges loving the texture and taste.

In the end, one contestant is crowned the winner of Chopped season 23 episode 7 "First Responders" and goes home with the grand prize.